fishing last night on a medium size reservoir, 4.15pm and getting very dark, and while waiting for otherr remembered reading in this months TotalFklyFisher about using a booby on a sinking line so I tried it - first cast with with a slow retrieve landed a 3lb blue trout. Is this method common and if so can anyone give any further advice re tactics etc, for instance could I put a dropper on the leader.

Hi Mate;

Now there's a distinct chill in the air.....the Booby will be my number one tactic this time of year...on most reservoirs and large stillwaters..

But remember it's not usually allowed on Catch & Release Waters...!

Personally i usually fish a single fly, basically because you get better presentation and can cast further.

Also as you're retrieving slowly and waiting upto 45 seconds for the fly to sink (depending on the depth of water and your line's sink rate) then your not casting that often...the last thing you want is tangles that can occur with a dropper when fishing at range...so in effect a couple of mins of wasted time.

The water can also be gin clear at this time of year.


my set up is simple.....start with an 5-8ft leader and a Single fly...always one of the following:-

Black & green booby
White & Green booby
Minkie Booby
Hummungus Booby
Coral booby

Then adjust the length of leader depending on weed, depth the fish are holding etc......remember the fly will be pulled down to the bottom as you retrieve....

The mornings are usually colder...so I always start with a short leader (5ft)and lengthen the leader around 11:00am (8ft)....then go short again about 3:00pm......

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very useful- will try that next time

What does the booby fly imitate and how does it work?

Open to debate that one

Coral Boobies and Cats Whisker boobies are basically lures and don't really accrrately imitate anything...they just induce the fish into taking the fly through movement and aggression.

But Hummungus Boobies & Minkie Boobies are fry imitations, yet still possess all the fish inducing benifits of those mentioned above.

Damsel booby...damsel nymph

Look at it this way.....the fly is at the right depth for the fish....it's retrieved at the right speed(slowly)......it has movement and caused disturbance and can induce a take...So it works.....very well

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